ABSTRACT
IT has been evident that the Constitution, though it recognized a certain measure of democratic advice, has interfered with democratic control of the machinery of State and with the growth of political parties, although the latter have caused injury to themselves by their own delinquencies, so that the field of Japanese government offers opportunities for the machinations of extra-parliamentary groups which are desirous of directing the national policy into channels which they favour. Yet in the preceding chapter no attempt was made to consider the peculiar position in the political structure which the military occupy. It seems pertinent, therefore, to inquire into that position, and to discuss the organization and ideology of the military, in order to ascertain whether they are in a position to take advantage of the deficiencies of democratic government, and, if they are, whether they make use of their opportunity.
